press release: ASU Study of Nutritional and Metabolic Status of Children with Autism

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Press Release: ASU Study of Nutritional and Metabolic Status of

Children with Autism

A new study published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism evaluates

the nutritional and metabolic status of 55 children with autism spectrum

disorders compared to 44 neurotypical children of similar age and

gender.

Compared to the neurotypical children, children with autism had

significantly worse nutritional and metabolic status, as detailed

below.

Highlights of the study

The findings of low levels of ATP (a major fuel for the body and the

brain) suggest that children with autism have impaired mitochondrial

function (decreased energy production).

The findings of lower levels of biotin and other vitamins, and biomarkers

indicating increased need for vitamins, strongly suggests that

vitamin/mineral supplementation would be helpful for most children with

autism.

The findings of low levels of reduced glutathione, and increased levels

of oxidized glutathione, are consistent with several studies by et

al. Glutathione is a major anti-oxidant, and a major defense against

toxic metals/chemicals. The findings of low levels of NADPH at least

partially explains the increased oxidation of glutathione, because NADPH

is the co-factor required to convert oxidized glutathione to reduced

(active) glutathione.

The finding of low levels of SAM is consistent with several studies by

et al. SAM is the primary methyl donor in the body, and is

important for methylation (activation/deactivation/modification) of DNA,

RNA, proteins, phospholipids, and neurotransmitters. Uridine, a

biomarker of methylation status, was also significantly elevated, which

confirms a significant impairment in methylation. ATP is the

co-factor needed to convert methionine to SAM, so low levels of ATP

likely contributes to the decreased level of SAM.

The finding of very low levels of sulfate replicates several studies by

Waring et al. Sulfate is the third most abundant mineral in the

body, and sulfation is one of the major ways in which the liver

detoxifies chemicals. It appears that children with autism cannot recycle

sulfate in their kidneys (partly due to lower levels of ATP), resulting

in increased loss of sulfate in the urine, and decreased levels in the

body. It appears that most children with autism need substantial

sulfate therapy (MSM supplements or Epsom salt baths).

The finding of low levels of ATP, NADH, and NADPH is interesting because

all are formed from ribose, and a recent study (Freedenfeld et al) found

that ribose therapy and NADH therapy were each able to improve levels of

ATP, NADH, NADPH, SAM, and/or ribose.

The findings of low levels of tryptophan, an essential amino acid,

suggests that children with autism would have low levels of serotonin (an

important neurotransmitter) and melatonin (the hormone that induces

sleep), since tryptophan is converted into serotonin and then

melatonin. This suggests that tryptophan supplementation may be

helpful.

The findings of low level of lithium confirms an earlier study by

et al, which found lower levels of lithium in young children with autism

and their mothers. Lithium is possibly an essential mineral, and

low levels of lithum are associated with a wide range of psychiatric

disorders, including schizophrenia and aggressive behavior. This

suggests that low levels of lithium supplementation may be

helpful.

The lead author of the study, Prof. of Arizona State

University, states that “This extensive study revealed many nutritional

and metabolic abnormalities in children with autism. The good news

is that they should all be easily treatable with appropriate nutritional

supplementation.” This paper is the first of several papers on a

large study conducted by Arizona State University to evaluate and treat

nutritional and metabolic problems in children with autism by the use of

a customized vitamin/mineral supplement. The supplement used in

that study has now been commercialized, and is available from

www.yasooproducts.com/syndion

This study was funded by the Autism Research Institute and the Legacy

Foundation. The nutritional and metabolic measurements were

conducted by Doctors Data and Health Diagnostics and Research Institute

(HDRI, formerly Vitamin Diagnostics), and those tests are now

commercially available.

The full version of the paper is available for free from

http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/8/1/34

open access:

Nutritional and

Metabolic Status of Children with Autism vs. Neurotypical Children, and

the Association with Autism Severity.

JB, Audhya T, McDonough-Means S, Rubin RA, Quig D, Geis E, Gehn E,

Loresto M, J, Atwood S, Barnhouse S, Lee W.

Nutr Metab (Lond). 2011 Jun 8;8(1):34.

http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/8/1/34/abstract

Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

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